Roy Masters (born 2 April 1928) is host of Advice Line, a talk radio show he started in 1961 and still hosts today. He is a prolific author and creator of a mindfulness meditation exercise, now used in the U.S. military. Masters is founder of the Oregon-based non-profit organization, the Foundation of Human Understanding. In his early twenties, he travelled across America lecturing as an expert diamond cutter.

Early life and education

Roy Masters was born in London in 1928 to a family of diamond cutters. His grandfather was a diamond cutter, as were several of his uncles.[2] Masters’ father died when he was 15, and he was sent to Brighton, Englandto apprenticeship in diamond cutting in his uncle’s company, Monnickendam, Ltd.[3] His family could only afford education for his older brother, so Masters could not attend college.[4]

Career

Following his apprenticeship in diamond cutting, Masters travelled to many places to pursue his trade, including Amsterdam; Brussels; Belgium; South Africa, where he spent two years in 1947; and later, America.[3][5] All of this followed Masters’ military service duringWorld War II, serving in the Royal Sussex Regiment of the British Army.[2] During his time in Brighton, Masters saw a vaudevillestage hypnosis presentation where the hypnotist easily induced volunteer subjects to do strange and outlandish things. Masters distinctly remembers pondering the question: “Why can’t hypnotism be used to make people act sensibly, rather than foolishly?”[6]

In 1949, Masters emigrated to the United States where he made a name for himself travelling throughout the country lecturing on diamond cutting under the auspices of the Diamond Council of America.[2] He was often invited to participate in radio and TV interviews on the subject, and he hosted a daily radio show called, “Story of Your Diamond”.[2][4] Within a short time, Masters had visited 40 of the 48 states.[5] He met and married his wife, Ann, in Birmingham, Alabama, and they eventually moved to Houston, Texas where they started a family.[citation needed]

Mindfulness meditation

In the 1950s, excitement around Bridey Murphy drove friends to consult with Masters about hypnosis. Masters understood hypnosis to be a “duplication of life’s errors” and immediately realized no good can ever come from hypnotherapy.[4] Masters sold his diamond cutting business and founded the Institute of Hypnosis where, unbeknownst to his clients, instead of hypnotizing them he “unhypnotized them”.[4] Masters saw as many as thirty people a day for consultation.[4] About his leaving the diamond cutting profession, Masters said, “I had my own business, but I left that lucrative work because I had a calling for this kind of work. I’m more interested in what I’m doing now than anything else.”[7]

In Houston, Masters was once charged with practicing medicine without a license, which was to be a test case to determine the legality of non-medical practice of hypnosis.[4] His short time spent in jail received notoriety because of his counseling of fellow inmates.[4]Masters immediately returned to work and continued on for two years, during which time he produced the mindfulness meditation record, How Your Mind Can Keep You Well. His meditation exercise has long been used by professional counselors.[8] On why it is effective, Masters said, “it enables you to become objective, a little bit separate and disentangled from all your troublesome thoughts, emotions, heartaches, fears and traumatic memories – and that, all by itself, is extremely helpful, and actually healing.”[8]

Masters bought a house trailer and relocated his family to Los Angeles where he founded the Foundation of Human Understanding in 1961.[7] That same year, Masters began America’s first talk radio show; the show’s theme was about overcoming stress “spiritually, psychologically [and] emotionally”.[1][7] Masters continues to host the show, called Advice Line, which has been on the air continuously since its start.[8]

Never one to mince words, Roy Masters is a man who says what he feels no matter what the cost. Perhaps that’s why his program remains, in his opinion, unsponsorable. As a youngster growing up in England, his almost painful honesty, his perception, and his relentless questioning of the adult world’s sham standards cast a chilling silence to many a family gathering. Outspoken and guileless, he was called tactless by his elders and it was hoped he would outgrow this annoying trait. He never did.

Currently, Masters’ radio show is nationally syndicated and available for streaming online. His mindfulness meditation record has been transposed over mediums and is now used to treat stress in the U.S. military.[8]

1979 The Satan Principle: Life Itself Is Hypnosis: Self-Defense Lessons to Help You Cope With Everyday Pressure. Oregon: Foundation of Human Understanding, June 1979. ISBN 978-0-933900-02-8 (Earlier version: Life Itself Is Hypnosis: The Satan Principle: Self-Defense Lessons to Help You Cope With Everyday Pressure, Foundation Books, 1978. ASINB000NDXFO)

1982 How to Survive Your Parents: And Not Do to Your Children What Your Parents Did to You. Oregon: Foundation of Human Understanding, June 1, 1982. (pbk) ISBN 978-0-933900-10-3

Roy Masters (commentator)

“Roy Masters (born April 2, 1928) is a radio commentator and author based in southern Oregon, United States. He discusses Christianity, psychology, and philosophy. His commentary is distributed through his Foundation for Human Understanding (FHU), which includes a radio program, books, audio and video recordings, web site, church services, and meetings.

Masters advocates decision-making principles for issues involving relationships, marriage, family life, and upsetting or traumatic experiences. Other topics he discusses include medicine, politics and science. …”

The Foundation of Human Understanding

“…The Foundation of Human Understanding was founded by Roy Masters in 1963. This worldwide foundation is dedicated to assisting anyone who is interested in perfecting their spiritual natures through the principles of Judeo Christianity. …”

6 Responses to “Roy Masters–Videos”

I appreciate the opportunity to comment. Thank You.
Jesus is the true spoke person for God and living, and all these videos in a polite manner are lots of unnecessary ramblings.
Buddha who may have inspired Roy was a confirmed Atheist who chastised free thinkers extraordinarily badly for believing that there was a God, using hypnotic terrorism with overwhelming amounts authority to suppress free thought.
We all enjoy a free society full of good laws. Laws that cause want-to-be tyrant organisations to tremble.
Fortunately none of us have been subject to power organisations such as Roy’s which restrained by good laws never become the law of our personal nightmare.
Watch a good movie to relieve stress. Life is good.
If Roy says your escaping reality to relieve stress.
Say…
That is the way God made it, and it’s better than living in a cult.
Jesus never taught this stuff that Roy teaches and no one needs it.
Enjoy your little escape with a good movie.
Till Jesus comes again, God bless you all.

Plain and simple Roy master is a crazy physico! He thinks all women are whores and stupid and that he can control the world with his mind powers? Umm sounds like a very cheesy bad guy in a flim! I would not follow listen or even allow this man in my house if you think he is something then your clearly isane! God is the only one who is going to lead you through anything!